Formula 1 drivers are now subjected to stringent new regulations aimed at preventing them from decelerating excessively between qualifying laps this season.
Niels Wittich, the FIA race director, has released updated instructions to drivers in his latest effort to mitigate potentially hazardous situations between vehicles during qualifying sessions.
Over the past few seasons, there have been numerous close calls involving fast-moving cars and others slowing down to cool their tires or power units.
Last year, the governing body of the sport attempted to address this issue by mandating that drivers maintain a maximum time interval between exiting and re-entering the pit lane. The latest measures take this initiative a step further.
Starting this weekend, the pace of drivers relative to the designated lap time will be monitored at each marshalling post around the circuit. This adjustment aims to minimize significant speed differentials between cars during both qualifying sessions and pre-race reconnaissance laps.
The revised regulations stipulate that, unless under exceptional circumstances acknowledged by the stewards, drivers must refrain from driving excessively slowly during any lap throughout and after the conclusion of the qualifying session, including in-laps and out-laps, or during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is open for the sprint or race.
To ensure the safe and organized progression of the event, drivers are required to adhere to or stay below the maximum time established by the FIA ECU in each marshalling sector and at designated safety car lines. A marshalling sector is defined as the segment of the track between each FIA light panel.
Any driver found to surpass the maximum time set by the FIA ECU may be considered to be driving unnecessarily slowly.
In addition, to prevent faster cars from encountering significantly slower ones, the race director has issued new guidelines regarding behavior at specific locations around the circuit.
“In situations where faster cars are approaching, drivers are advised to move away from the racing line between turns three and four, turns 10 to 11, and turns 13 to 14 to mitigate any significant speed differences between vehicles on track.”
One of the repercussions of the regulations implemented last year, which the FIA aims to avoid, is drivers deliberately slowing down at the pit lane exit, where space for overtaking by other cars is often limited. The updated regulations now encompass the pit lane as well.
Comparison of updated driver instructions with notes from the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.
During qualifying sessions and reconnaissance laps, drivers must maintain a pace below the maximum time limit specified by the FIA between the Safety Car lines indicated on the pit lane map. The maximum time will be communicated to teams and drivers following the second free practice session.
To ensure the smooth and safe progression of the event, except in exceptional circumstances acknowledged by the Stewards, drivers must avoid driving excessively slowly on any lap throughout and after qualifying, including in-laps and out-laps, as well as during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is open for the sprint or race.
They must adhere to or stay below the maximum time set by the FIA ECU at least once in each marshalling sector and at both the first and second safety car lines
Any driver found to exceed the maximum time set by the FIA ECU may be considered to be driving unnecessarily slowly. Incidents will typically be investigated after the qualifying session. The maximum time will be provided to teams and drivers following the second practice session.
